The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa played as a stunning backdrop for the 21st Annual Family Christmas Festival featuring “Spirit Child” on Sunday, Dec. 3.
“Spirit Child” portrays the story of Christmas as told through an Aztec Folk Legend. The story is based on the translation of the Aztec children’s story by John Bierhorst.
Dr. David Clark Isele, music professor and composer-in-residence at UT, composed “Spirit Child” in 1985 and decided to bring it back this year.
With a combination of the UT Collegiate Chorale, faculty instrumentalists, narration and student dancers, the performance provided a perfect opening for the holiday season.
The performance tells the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. It started with the “Angel’s Song” performed by a soloist accompanied by the UT choir, which brought the good news of the Messiah’s birth. It ended with, “This Day of Salvation,” which concludes the story of the birth of Christ and his work on the earth. The three soloists that truly blessed the performance were Carissa Campbell, Hilary Kraus and Alice Renier.
Narrating throughout the performance was Cheryl Fernandez Isele. She provided the text portion of the Aztec’s children’s story.
Representing the earth, three dancers carrying a red, purple and brown cloth gathered in front of the congregation. Their graceful movements almost told you the story they were performing. Other performances included the Dance of the Earth, the dance of peace, the Dance of the Star and the Dance of the rain. The three dancers that brought the story to life were Meghan Link, Lea McGowan and Annae Robinson.
In a world today where the holiday season is filled with all of the contemporary Christmas songs, “Spirit Child” switched the focus back to classical and provided guests with an excellent performance by hardworking students and faculty.